This finding aid is made available for public use following the Universal 1.0 Public Domain Dedication Creative Commons designation.
Material is arranged chronologically.
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
The collection contains Stork's office files, arranged chronologically. This chronological arrangement reflects Stork's own filing system. While the bulk of the material is correspondence between Stork and colleagues, students, and University administrators, there are also documents related to conference presentations, symposia, and awards, as well as clippings and honors.
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Gilbert Stork Papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Reproductions may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
2011.2012.M082: Source of acquisition--Gilbert Stork. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--02/21/2012.
Gilbert Stork was born in Belgium in 1921. His received his primary and secondary education in France, before moving to the United States and attending the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. He went on to do his graduate work in organic chemistry at the University of Wisconsin, where he earned his PhD in 1945.
Stork worked for a year in the pharmaceutical industry before taking a position in the Chemistry Department at Harvard. Stork remained at Harvard until 1952 when he accepted a position in the Chemistry Department at Columbia University, where he would remain for the balance of his career. He became a full professor in 1955, was named the Eugene Higgins Professor of Chemistry in 1967, and attained the status of Professor Emeritus in 1993.
Professor Stork's work on organic chemistry focused on synthesis, including, notably, his achievement of the total synthesis of quinine. He invented a reagent to solve a specific problem in total synthesis, is known for including stereospecificity in synthetic designs. The Stork enamine synthesis is named in his honor.
Stork's many awards and honors include the American Chemical Society's Award in Pure Chemistry (1957), the American Chemical Society's Award for Creative Work in Synthetic Organic Chemistry (1967), the Arthur C. Cope Award (1980), the National Academy of Sciences Award in Chemical Sciences (1982), the National Medal of Science (1982), the Tetrahedron Prize (1985), the Roger Adams Award (1991), the Wolf Prize (1996), and the D.H. Barton Medal, Royal Society of Chemistry (2002).
Papers processed Carrie Hintz 02/24/2012.
finding aid written Carrie Hintz 02/27/202.
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.